Baptisms at Gateway Community Church on August 29th!
Staff Relationships - A Summer BBQ
Relationships are a key ingredient to staff development and staff morale. On Sunday, August 15th, the staff from the Mission put together an all-day BBQ at Yosemite Lake and invited all their families. The Mission staff just likes being together. In many ways, the staff at the Mission is like a big family. On Wednesday mornings a group of twenty or more staff members get together for Bible study and prayer. Other group Bible studies are taking place. But the staff certainly does enjoy getting together to eat and to play. The menu included barbequed and teriyaki chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, tamales, and all kinds of salads and side dishes and desserts. Not only was there plenty of fellowship, some braver souls tried kayaking, others tried their hand at horse-shoes. A portion of the afternoon gave recognition to time spent free from alcohol and drugs and this ranged from one month to 27 years. The day was a blessing and relationships deepened. As we think about staff development and the positive morale that exists in the work-place at the Mission, we want to keep pouring the love of Jesus into each other so that we can in turn share Christ’s love with the people we serve.
Our Staff, A Valuable Resource
STAFF DEVELOPMENT - A PRIORITY
The Merced County Rescue Mission recognizes our staff as a valuable resource. The staff sustains an excellent program that provides hope and an opportunity for life change for people experiencing homelessness or hopelessness. Because we believe in our staff and recognize their value, it is our desire to invest in them and provide development opportunities that will enhance their skills, their personal effectiveness and prepare them for future opportunities both within the Mission and beyond. Praise and encouragement for jobs well done are basic components in staff development. Many people on our staff have come from backgrounds where they were abused and put down and, as a result, have lost confidence and faith in themselves. For the 90 percent of our staff members who have gone through our programs, the ACE Overcomers class, which helps participants deal with adverse childhood experiences, has been a significant help in facing past trauma. Building our staff up and helping them to believe in themselves and to develop confidence in their own skills and abilities is extremely important in our work with each other. It is encouraging to see people who have been down and out rising up and take control of their lives as they turn their attention to helping others. Many of our staff members are so grateful and excited about what God has done in their lives that they are enthusiastic about helping others to experience what they have received.
Educational opportunities are also of great importance in staff development. In some cases, helping our staff earn their G.E.D. has proved to be a real step forward. Others on our staff have enrolled at Merced College where some have received an AA degree, and some are still in process. Staff who work in the Senior Meals program receive help in getting their “Serve Safe” certification. This certification allows staff members to serve food and is not only important for retaining employment but opens doors for jobs throughout the food industry. Thirteen members of our staff have enrolled in CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals). Seven have completed the program and six are in process. The CCAPP program is a 14-month long program where participants attend 6 hours every Saturday. The CCAPP program provides a credential recognized by the State of California and those who complete the program are certified as Alcohol and Drug Counselors. In addition to the classroom time, participants in this program must complete 3,000 hours of supervised field practicum.
Some time ago the Mission’s Board of Directors made the decision to invest in our staff by financially helping them enroll in the CCAPP program. We are excited to announce that in August the Mission received a grant that will help cover the costs for staff to receive the CCAPP credentialing as Peer Support Specialists. These grants are invaluable as they make it possible for the Mission to continue encouraging and also financially supporting staff members to progress in their own professional development. During the past two months, you have read 24 testimonies from staff members expressing how God has changed their lives. These are the people the Mission wants to continue investing in and developing. As a Mission, we know that God has brought people to us to transform and mold into His image. As we make staff development a priority, we not only strengthen individuals, but we strengthen the Mission as a whole.
We need your help to furnish buildings for Phase 1
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO FURNISH THE VILLAGE OF HOPE CAMPUS!
Virtual Oasis Fund Drive Tops $100,000
The virtual Oasis Fund Drive has ended and we would like to thank all of our generous donors who helped us top $100,000. Over $60,000 was received from our donors and coupled with the $40,000 match from the Central Valley Opportunity Fund, over $100,000 was raised for our life transformation program, Hope for Men and Women. The funds raised in this fund drive will provide housing, meals, counseling, and classes for the men and women in our faith-based program. Our faith-based program is dependent solely on your donations. Through these gifts, you are directly impacting the lives of men and women and helping them to turn their lives around. Men and women who have been incarcerated, and have spent time on the streets, and suffering from addictions, have now found new life in Christ, are taking jobs, and becoming independent, as many of them are being reunited with their families. Together, we are changing lives and reducing homelessness in Merced County.
Learn more about our faith-based program, Hope for Men and Women, click here.
Virtual Oasis Fund Drive
Join us, between May 15-30, for our virtual Oasis Fund Drive. Together, we are changing lives and reducing homelessness in Merced County. Our goal is to raise $80,000 for our faith-based, Hope for Men and Women program, to keep this program going throughout the year. During our presentation, you will learn more about who we are and what we do. Get informed and feel inspired. Your donations are making a difference.
Presentation available Saturday, May 15, at 9am. Get informed and feel inspired. Watch it here.
